Permanent, subject to change (up to 5 years), or a temporary permit (up to 12 months) will be issued to an individual who meets the following eligibility criteria:

Cannot walk without assistance of another person or a brace, cane, crutch, a lower limb prosthetic device or similar assistive device or who requires the assistance of a wheelchair.

Suffers from lung disease to such an extent that forced expiratory volume in one second is less than 1 litre.

Portable oxygen is a medical necessity.

Cardiovascular disease impairment classified as Class III or Class IV to standards accepted by the American Heart Association or Class III or IV according to the Canadian Cardiovascular Standard.

Severely limited in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, musculoskeletal or orthopaedic condition.

Visual acuity is 20/200 or poorer in the better eye with or without corrective lenses or whose greatest diameter of the field of vision in both eyes is 20 degrees or less.

Condition(s) or functional impairment that severely limits his or her mobility.

His or her condition must be certified by an Accessible Parking Permit (APP) program recognized health practitioner (physician, chiropractor, registered nurse practitioner (extended class), physiotherapist, occupational therapist, chiropodist or podiatrist)

Please note that a person's age does not qualify him or her for a permit. You may apply for an APP even if you do not own a car or have a driver's licence. These permits are issued to individuals, not vehicles. A "portable permit" issued to a person with a disability ensures their ease of access from any vehicle at any time.

There is no charge for Accessible Parking Permits. The Ministry of Transportation is committed to breaking down barriers for people with disabilities throughout Ontario.

Ontario honours accessible parking permits, licence plates, markers or devices, bearing the international symbol for access for the person with a disability from other jurisdictions. You do not need to apply for a visitor permit if you are travelling with one of the above.

However, if you are disabled but do not have one of the above, please call ServiceOntario's Driver and Vehicle Contact Centre at 416 235-2999 or toll free at 1-800-387-3445 (Canada wide) to obtain information on how to apply for a visitor's Accessible Parking Permit.

These permits ensure that people with disabilities have a unique entitlement to designated accessible parking throughout Ontario (specific parking privileges vary depending on the municipality or parking lot owner). ServiceOntario issues Accessible Parking Permits to out-of-province visitors for a maximum of six months.

Note: Ontario honours accessible parking permits, licence plates, markers or devices, bearing the international symbol for access for the person with a disability from other jurisdictions. You do not need to apply for a visitor permit if you are travelling with one of the above.

With the following exceptions, any driver involved in a collision where damage to vehicles or property is more than $1,000 may report the collision to a Collision Reporting Centre. Police will come to the scene when one or more of the following situations apply.

As with any major purchase, you may wish to have the vehicle inspected prior to purchasing. You should take it to a certified mechanic that you trust and have them inspect it before you make the purchase. The mechanic may find defects that are not covered under the regulations relating to a Safety Standards Certificates (SSC) that may be costly to repair in the near future.

An SSC is a certificate that is issued by a government- approved Motor Vehicle Inspection Station (MVIS) after a vehicle passes an inspection. This inspection covers the minimum safety requirements for vehicles in the province of Ontario.

An SSC is not a warranty or guarantee on the general condition of the vehicle. The SSC only certifies that on the date it was issued, the vehicle met the minimum safety standards as set down by Regulation 611 of Ontario's Highway Traffic Act (HTA).

You can have your vehicle inspected at a Ministry of Transportation-approved Motor Vehicle Inspection Station (MVIS). There are approximately 13,500 stations across Ontario, just look for the green and white sign that says "Ontario Motor Vehicle Inspection Station". MTO does not make recommendations regarding the choice of Motor Vehicle Inspection Stations to perform inspections. The choice is yours.

If you still believe the vehicle inspection was carried out improperly, you are encouraged to have your vehicle re-inspected at another MVIS location. Be sure to request they provide you with a list of items, including applicable measurements that do not meet the minimum SSC requirements. This information will support a possible ministry investigation.

If the results of the second inspection indicate the inspection was not properly conducted, you can contact your local Ministry of Transportation enforcement office as listed in the blue pages of your local telephone book (see “Drivers and Vehicles”).

In order to support a possible ministry investigation, do not have the defective vehicle components changed, modified or repaired before you discuss your situation with an officer at your local MTO enforcement office.

If an enforcement officer inspects your vehicle and finds that the vehicle could not have met the minimum requirements on the day of inspection, then a charge may be laid against the garage/mechanic that did the inspection. The fine range upon conviction is from $400 to $20,000.

If the officer inspects your vehicle and finds that it has critical defects, the vehicle must be repaired before it is put back on the road. If the vehicle is not going to be repaired at the location where the officer inspected it, then the officer will remove the plates and will put the vehicle in “unfit” status.

When requested, the ministry will supply the vehicle owner with a copy of the inspection results. The ministry cannot force an MVIS station to pay for any repairs on a vehicle to bring it into compliance. To recoup any out-of-pocket expenses that were required to make the vehicle comply with the minimum safety requirements, you may choose to seek legal advice and/or consider civil action against the MVIS station/mechanic.

If you purchased or leased your vehicle through a dealer, you may be able to receive assistance from the agency that regulates used vehicle dealers in Ontario. If you purchased or leased it from a dealer, contact the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) to get information about your rights and responsibilities. OMVIC also offers a complaint handling service on their website.

No, but if you do not wish to incur any additional inspection fees you must return the vehicle to the station for re-inspection of the repaired items and issuance of the SSC. In this case, no additional fee will be charged for re-inspection, providing that the wheel brake assemblies do not have to be inspected a second time.

NOTE: The vehicle must be returned to the MVIS within 10 calendar days with the specified defects repaired to qualify for re-inspection at no charge.

Under the Highway Traffic Act, a person residing in Northern Ontario means a person who ordinarily resides in the Territorial District of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay or any part of the Territorial District of Nipissing lying North or West of Algonquin Provinical Park.

The ministry will replace a validation sticker for $7 if it is lost, stolen, damaged or removed by enforcement staff. If it is faulty or lost in the mail, it will be replaced free of charge, if reported within 31 days from the date the initial sticker was issued.

For your convenience, a licence plate renewal application will be mailed to you approximately 60 to 90 days prior to the plate expiry (usually on your birthdate).

You must renew your plate before the sticker expires. You may also renew six months before the sticker expires. In this case, the Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office will print a renewal application for you.

A licence plate bearing current validation (sticker) must be attached to a vehicle before the vehicle can be legally driven in Ontario. Plates are validated by obtaining and affixing a sticker as described on the carrier form on which the stickers are attached.

Plates are validated by obtaining and affixing a validation sticker to your vehicle's rear licence plate or front plate for a commercial vehicle. The sticker comes with instructions, please affix as indicated.

As a courtesy, the ministry will send you a renewal notice approximately 60 to 90 days before your renewal date. You may wish to refer to this document when you renew online. You can renew your sticker online at ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Online Services.

At the time of renewal, any outstanding parking fines and NSF cheques must be paid in full — and can be paid online — before your order is processed and a sticker is issued.

A vehicle emissions pass report or a conditional pass report may be required. Ontario's Drive Clean Program applies to owners of passenger and light-duty vehicles registered in the Drive Clean Program area. Ontario also requires all diesel-powered heavy duty trucks and buses province-wide to pass an annual Drive Clean emissions test. All non-diesel heavy-duty vehicles require annual tests if they are registered in the designated Drive Clean light-duty vehicle program area. For more information on the Drive Clean Program, call the Drive Clean Call Centre at 905-440-7482.

When a plate owner has failed to pay his or her parking fines or other related outstanding fees (such as an NSF), certain vehicle-related transactions, such as renewing a plate sticker, will not be permitted until the fines are paid.

The Ministry of the Attorney General posts outstanding parking fines against licence plates. The outstanding parking fine amount is listed on the Vehicle Licence Renewal Application. If you have any questions about your fine status, please call your local provincial court.

Full payment may be made online when you order your sticker. The denial is lifted when the outstanding amount has been fully paid.

If the online plate renewal is successfully processed, you will be able to view the confirmation of your order online. You should keep this confirmation number for your records in case you have not received your renewed sticker and you need to follow-up on this matter.

If the online plate renewal is successfully processed, you will be able to view the confirmation of your order on-line. You should keep this confirmation number for your records in case you have not received your renewed sticker and you need to follow-up on this matter.

If you call within 31 days after the sticker was ordered, a free replacement sticker will be issued. If you call after 31 days of the sticker order date, you will be required to pay a replacement fee of $7.00.

If it is faulty, it will be replaced free of charge, if reported within 31 days of the sticker issue date. For assistance, call ServiceOntario's Driver and Vehicle Contact Centre at (416) 235-2999 or toll free 1-800-387-3445 (Canada wide).

Northern Ontario residents can use studded tires from September 1 to May 31 inclusive. Using illegal studs, driving outside the legal
time period, and Southern Ontario residents using studs on their vehicles can result in fines of up to $1,000.

Please check with your local tire installer or supplier for exact prices. On average, a studdable tire could cost anywhere from $90 -
$150 per tire or more depending on the make and size of the tire. This is similar to the cost of a winter tire. The price for studding a
tire is typically $25 per tire and up.

Where can I get studded tires?

Studded tires can be ordered by your local tire installer or supplier. Follow manufacturers' recommendations for installation,
maintenance and operations

The Red Book, which contains vehicle values, is published by Canadian Red Book Inc. This book or a similar one is available at most book stores and at retail automotive centres. To obtain the Red Book value of a vehicle, you need to look up the year, make and model of the vehicle in question. The wholesale value is the one most commonly used for retail sales tax purposes. The Used Vehicle Information Package uses this retail value for transferring ownership of a vehicle on a private sale. If you wish to purchase the official Red Book you can reach them by calling 905-469-6468.

The Ministry of Transportation no longer runs the government vehicle auction program. As part of its efforts to build partnerships with the private sector, the ministry has transferred delivery of this program to a private company, Manheim Auctions.

If you require information on government vehicle auctions, please contact:

Vehicle Permit with the Application for Transfer fully completed and signed. If vehicle is registered to two registrants, a completed Supplementary Application (available in the Issuing Office) is also required.

Safety Standards Certificate if the vehicle is to be registered as fit or plated not required for trailers or mopeds or off-road vehicles or snowmobiles.

Odometer Information for passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles (3,000kg or less and for personal and business use only) and buses (non prorate). Heavy commercial vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, off-road vehicles, snowmobiles and mopeds are exempt from the odometer information requirement.

Valid insurance information if the vehicle is plated not required for trailers.

Proof of identity for applicant to verify their name, date of birth and signature (eg driver's licence).

Plate portion of permit if registering existing licence plates to the vehicle.

Payment for retail sales tax on the greater of the wholesale value (from UVIP) or purchase price from the bill of sale. Please note that for a passenger and light commercial vehicle (2,200kg and under empty weight) 20 years or older, the Retail Sales Tax is payable on the greater one of the following: the purchase price, the replacement value for insurance purposes, or the appraised value. An appraisal document or insurance document showing the value of the vehicle must accompany the bill of sale.

Payment of licensing fees: for plates and permit $29 or $53 for a trailer plate and permit or $14 if plates that are already owned are attached. Transfer fee for a snowmobile is $6 and the annual validation fee is $15.

Vehicle emissions pass report if vehicle is registered with plates in the Drive Clean Program area. To find out if your vehicle needs to pass an emissions test, call the Drive Clean Call Centre at 905-440-7482 or visit the Drive Clean website.

Bill of Sale

There are many vehicle transfer situations, other that regular transfers, which will require other transfer documents. Some examples are as follows:

Registered owner is deceased

Repossession

Divorce

Spousal

If you fall into one of these categories, please call ServiceOntario's Driver and Vehicle Contact Centre at 416-235-2999 or toll free 1-800-387-3445 (Canada-wide) for further information.

If you have purchased a new vehicle in Ontario the following documents are required:

New Vehicle Information Statement (NVIS) or dealer's Bill of Sale for off-road and motorized snow vehicles.

Completed and signed Application for Registration (available at Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices).

Insurance information if vehicle is plated not required for trailers

Plate portion of the permit if registrant attaching licence plates they already have in their possession.

For commercial vehicles weighing 900 kilograms or more, an Empty Weight Certificate is required if the empty weight is not included on the NVIS.

Payment for Harmonized Sales Tax.

Proof of identity for applicant to verify their name, date of birth and signature.

Payment of licensing fees: for plates and permit, $29 or $53 for a trailer plate or $14 if plates that are already owned are attached. For plate validation, the owner will be required to pay for the validation period from the date of vehicle registration to the assigned validation expiry. Trailer plates do not require validation.

Fee for off-road plate and permit is $38, validation is not required.

Fee for motorized snow vehicle registration (decal) and permit is $33 and annual validation is $15.

If you have purchased a new unregistered vehicle/trailer purchased outside Ontario, the following documents are required:

New Vehicle Information Statement (NVIS) (if NVIS is not supplied by manufacturer, a dealer's certificate of sale/bill of sale or certificate of origin is acceptable.)

Completed and signed Application for Registration (available at Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices).

Vehicle Import Form (only required if the vehicle is purchased outside Canada)

Insurance information if vehicle is plated, not required for trailers.

Plate portion of the permit, if registrant attaching currently owned licence plates.

Payment of Harmonized Sales Tax.

For commercial vehicles and trailers whose empty weight is more than 900 kilograms, an Empty Weight Certificate is required if not shown on the NVIS or the other acceptable proof of ownership.

Proof of identity for applicant to verify their name, date of birth and signature.

Payment for licensing fees: for plates and permit, $29 or $53 for a trailer plate or $14 if plates that are already owned are attached. For plate validation, the owner will be required to pay for the validation period from the date of vehicle registration to the assigned validation expiry. Trailer plates do not require validation.

Fee for off-road vehicle plate and permit is $38, validation is not required.

Fee for motorized snow vehicle registration (decal) and permit is $33 and annual validation is $15.

If you purchased a used vehicle in Ontario and the vehicle was previously unregistered, the following documents are required:

Old vehicle permit-if available (If the old vehicle permit is not available then a sworn affidavit is required. Please call ServiceOntario's Driver and Vehicle Contact Centre at (416) 235-2999 or toll free (Canada Wide) 1-800-387-3445 for further information on contents of affidavit).

Completed and signed Application for Registration (available at Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices).

Proof of identity for applicant to verify their name, date of birth and signature.

Insurance information if the vehicle is plated, not required for trailers.

Payment for Harmonized Sales Tax.

For commercial vehicles and trailers whose empty weight is more than 900 kilograms, an Empty Weight Certificate is required.

Vehicle emissions inspection may be required if the vehicle is plated. To find out if your vehicle needs to pass an emissions test, call the Drive Clean Call Centre at 905-440-7482 or visit the Drive Clean website.

Payment for licensing fees: for plates and permit, $29 or $53 for a trailer plate or $14 if plates that are already owned are attached. For plate validation, the owner will be required to pay for the validation period from the date of vehicle registration to the assigned validation expiry. Trailer plates do not require validation.

Fee for off-road vehicle plate and permit is $38, validation is not required.

Fee for motorized snow vehicle registration (decal) and permit is $33 and annual validation is $15.

For a used vehicle/trailer previously registered in another jurisdiction the following documents are required:

Vehicle permit from previous jurisdiction/certificate of title/written confirmation from Registrar of previous jurisdiction

Bill of sale if vehicle was purchased outside of Ontario and not transferred to present owner.

Completed and signed Application for Registration (available at Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices).

For commercial vehicles and trailers whose empty weight is more than 900 kilograms or more, an Empty Weight Certifcate is reqired if not included on out-of-province proof of ownership.

Insurance information if the vehicle is plated not required for trailers.

Plate portion of the permit if registrant attaching currently owned licence plates.

Payment for Harmonized Sales Tax.

Proof of identity for applicant.

Vehicle emissions inspection may be required if the vehicle is being plated. To find out if your vehicle needs to pass an emissions test, call the Drive Clean Call Centre at 905-440-7482 or visit the Drive Clean website.

Payment of licensing fees: for plates and permit, $29 or $53 for a trailer plate or $14 if plates that are already owned are attached. For plate validation, the owner will be required to pay for the validation period from the date of vehicle registration to the assigned validation expiry. Trailer plates do not require validation.

Fee for off-road vehicle plate and permit is $38, validation is not required.

Fee for motorized snow vehicle registration (decal) and permit is $33 and annual validation is $15.

The Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP) contains vehicle registration history in Ontario, including all present and previous owners in Ontario as well as the municipality of residence, odometer information, vehicle lien information (i.e. if there are any liens registered on the vehicle), the fair market value (Red Book) on which the minimum tax payable will apply and other information such as consumer tips, vehicle safety standards inspection, retail sales tax information and forms for bill of sales.

The private seller of a used motor vehicle is required to purchase a Used Vehicle Information Package. For most transfers of vehicles between private sellers, a UVIP is mandatory. Unless the types of vehicle and transfer situations are exempt, the seller is required to supply the purchaser with this package at the time of sale. The purchaser must then present the UVIP to the Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office when transferring the vehicle registration. One example of an exemption to this package are transfers between linear family members (excluding siblings). Linear family members have been defined as father, mother, step-mother, step-father, spouse, grandfather, grandmother, son, daughter, step-son, step-daughter, step-grandson, step-granddaughter, grandson, granddaughter, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law. For further information on possible exemptions, please call ServiceOntario's Driver and Vehicle Contact Centre at 416-235-2999 or toll free at 1-800-387-3445 (Canada wide).

The Uninsured Vehicles Project (UVP) is a joint initiative between the Ontario government and the Insurance Bureau of Canada to allow the verification of mandatory automobile insurance coverage at the time of plate renewal in an effort to reduce the number of uninsured vehicles on Ontario's roads.

Under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, it's the law for all vehicles in Ontario to have valid insurance coverage. Drivers are required to provide proof of valid insurance when renewing their vehicle's licence plates.

Under the UVP, the Ministry of Transportation sends the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) electronically to the Insurance Bureau of Canada's insurance database, to query a vehicle’s mandatory insurance coverage.

Those who do not have valid insurance will not be eligible for licence plate validation renewal unless they have obtained the required mandatory vehicle insurance coverage. Drivers whose insurance cannot not be confirmed should contact an insurance provider or broker for further details or clarification.

As part of the Ministry's insurance verification process, vehicle owners who have unconfirmed insurance or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) issues will be notified in writing 120 days prior to their licence plate expiration date, allowing time to correct or update their information. These notices will direct customers with either a VIN or insurance information issue how to correct this information prior to their plate renewal in order to avoid problems when processing their plate renewal transaction.

Customers with valid insurance coverage who received the 120-day letter, may have potential issues with their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and/or their insurance information could not be properly verified. If a problem with your VIN has been identified, please refer to the insert enclosed with your letter, or click on this link www.Ontario.ca/vehicleinfo,or contact your insurance provider or broker for further clarification.

The 120-day letters are only sent to those individuals where valid insurance coverage could not be verified, or there is an issue with their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or a combination of both scenarios.

Currently, anyone registering or renewing their licence plates must
provide their insurance company name and policy number and on their application and declare that they have valid automobile insurance when they renew a vehicle permit